What is the easiest/best way to distinguish between the 2 species by just looking? There is a pet shop close by that has captive bred seahorses (supposedly), but the employee that purchased them quit and left. I'm pretty sure they are erectus or reidi (the tag says "Hippocampus ssp"). Are there any particular features I can look for to determine the species? Thanks. I'm asking because my students raised erectus a couple of years ago, and the 2 remaining girls need boyfriends and I guess I'm going to break down and spend my own money on some horses for my students.
erectus or reidi
- Thread starter ladyfsu
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Your best bet would be to take a picture and post it up. I doubt anyone here can describe it close enough that you'd be confident in deciding.
That said, I'd be careful as the odds are they aren't captive bred. For one, anyplace LFS that bought captive bred should know the species (even if an employee left they have order sheets). If the place the bought them from doesn't know what they are then the odds of them being captive bred is pretty slim. The other question to ask is what they're charging. Wild caught tend to be $20-$35. I've never seen captive bred for less than $60 and usually they're $70+ (especially for reidi).
That said, I'd be careful as the odds are they aren't captive bred. For one, anyplace LFS that bought captive bred should know the species (even if an employee left they have order sheets). If the place the bought them from doesn't know what they are then the odds of them being captive bred is pretty slim. The other question to ask is what they're charging. Wild caught tend to be $20-$35. I've never seen captive bred for less than $60 and usually they're $70+ (especially for reidi).
They aren't real expensive so I think they're wild caught. I did see one eating frozen, so I was hopeful. I just want to get some erectus for the students. One reason many took my class is that they know we have had fry and raised a few, and the students love the hands on stuff. The lady who sold them cheaply to me a couple years ago hasn't had many recently. I'll make sure I do my research on these horses and not let desperation rule. I'm going back to the store on Thursday and I'll get a couple pics. Thanks!
Laine
Laine
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Faerl is more than likely referring to SH that have been raised captively in net pens in the ocean, as true WC specimens are actually often more expensive than true CB because they come in fairly large (e.g., full adult size).
That being said, I'd go for the true CB SH, as the "cost of ownership" of the cheaper pen-raised SH is often much greater than the cost of true CB SH, and the latter will come to you happily eating frozen mysis.
That being said, I'd go for the true CB SH, as the "cost of ownership" of the cheaper pen-raised SH is often much greater than the cost of true CB SH, and the latter will come to you happily eating frozen mysis.
I'm referring to the ones from seahorse source, ocean riders etc. They run $65+ and (unless someone knows something I'm missing) according to everyone I've heard from are captive bred. I've never heard of wild caught being more expensive, the ones I see tend to be $30 and tiny most of the time (unless those are the net raised ones, the LFS stores never seem to know).
